Sport
22 January, 2025
Hawks' home transformed: $330,000 upgrade to Tatyoon Recreation Reserve
Ararat Rural City Council unveil upgraded Tatyoon Recreation Reserve.
Tatyoon Recreation Reserve is set to unveil a transformed oval, ensuring a top-tier playing field for players and patrons alike as upgrades near completion this month.
The upgrades, particularly the new drainage system, are designed to address challenges posed by winter sports, where wet conditions often leave the oval muddy and unstable.
Winter sports have damaged the oval, with wet weather and cold temperatures leaving the surface muddy, unstable, and challenging for players.
The new drainage system would elevate the playing surface quality and cut maintenance costs.
Ararat Rural City Council mayor Jo Armstrong said the $330,000 project would benefit the Tatyoon community for many years.
"Local sports play a crucial role in supporting not only physical health and well-being but also building social connections within the community," she said.
This project was supported by an $80,000 contribution from Ararat Rural City Council and $250,000 in grant funding allocated under the Victorian Government's Country Football and Netball Program.
This program is part of a $2.5 million Victorian government initiative to assist regional football and netball clubs, associations, and umpiring organisations in developing facilities and increasing participation.
Community Grants Program closing soon
The first round of the Ararat Rural City Council's 2025 Community Grants Program will close on February 2.
The grants fund clubs, organisations and community groups to provide programs, projects, activities, and events.
The program proudly supports community-led initiatives to increase engagement in sports and recreation, cultural events, arts accessibility, and sustainability initiatives.
Local groups are encouraged to submit applications for grants of up to $5000 in two-for-one categories: sports/recreation and health/well-being, culture and arts, environment and sustainability, and events.
In the last round, Ararat Rural City Council awarded three projects with grants totalling $6935.
Recipients included the Ararat Basketball Association for new uniforms to encourage more female players and the Mount William Polo Club for their October Mount William Station Polo Tournament event.
Interested groups can apply online at www.ararat.vic.gov.au or obtain hard copy applications from municipal offices.